Peruvian cardinal calls on voters to elect “those who defend life and the family”

Lima, Peru, Mar 7, 2006 / 12:00 am (CNA).- As the April 9 national elections draw near in Peru, Cardinal Juan Luis Cipriani Thore of Lima is calling of the faithful to vote for those who defend life and the family.

The cardinal noted that “the authorities of the Church are never going to tell you who to vote for, but they will lay out guidelines to keep in mind when doing so.”

“Think about which candidates defend life and the family. And as a Catholic, don’t worry about too many issues, defend your vote for life and the family,” the cardinal said.

He called on Catholics to take advantage of the Lenten season to reflect upon their own conversions so that on the day of the elections---which will be Palm Sunday—their votes may be the fruit of this interior transformation.

“During this time of Lent, we should seek out Confession, to ask forgiveness for our sins with sincerity and to prepare ourselves to receive Christ in the Eucharist. We must spiritually examine ourselves in order to become better on the inside and thus help our neighbor,” he added.

“Changing our lives is not easy,” he continued, “but we cannot fall into pessimism, discouragement and false humility. Conversion, which means changing one’s soul, is like a mending that helps to make right those thoughts that cause us problems.”

“If we do not lean on Christ there will be no conversion, no forgiveness, and no reconciliation. The strength to forgive comes from the Lord. Therefore let us seek Him out in His Church, the Catholic Church, by way of the sacraments, the ten commandments, and when we are feeling weak let us have recourse to prayer, such as the Our Father,” he said in conclusion.